Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.
Visualization Nation
One skill all informed people need is the ability to read, understand, and interpret data. Often, this data comes in the form of graphs, maps, and charts, known as data visualizations. At every level of education, educators are working to bring the power of data to bear, and prepare students to comprehend and use those tools.
- Researchers are taking a close look at what works in teaching data visualizations — and why it’s important. [Quartz]
- Here in Texas, historian Julie Hardwick is teaching history to college students, and organizing masses of historical data using a common tool: Google Sheets. [UT Austin]
- Plus:
- Washington Post data reporter Christopher Ingraham reveals how the pros read charts.
- The New York Times provides an on-demand webinar to help educators teach with graphs.
Tricks of the Trades
Career readiness is an important part of K-12 education. As more Americans join a seemingly ever-changing workforce, some programs are aiming to help students get on track for skilled work in a number of trades through the revival of the apprenticeship model.
- In Washington state, a new apprenticeship model is being put in place, but a number of implementation questions remain. [Seattle Times]
- America’s leading community college association, the American Association of Community Colleges, has announced an initiative to create 16,000 new apprentices in three years. [Inside Higher Ed]
Stopping Cyberbullying
Each year at this time, we commit to improve something about ourselves, our communities, and the world. One place to start is with cyberbullying. Here are some ways schools and even companies are working to end online harassment.
- Writer Vicki Vila’s extensive commentary covers the modern landscape of digital citizenship and the tools needed to protect student safety and combat cyberbullying. [Dallas Morning News]
- On the corporate side, Instagram is piloting the use of AI to warn posters about captions and content that may be offensive. [engadget]
… And Finally in Ed Tech News
Think a message in a bottle is just a storytelling trope? These students in North Carolina might beg to differ. [Winston-Salem Journal]
Photo: Hristina Šatalova